Makoto Tarao

Different expression patterns of cyclins A, D1 and E in human colorectal cancer.

The expressions of cyclins A, D1 and E at the protein level were investigated by Western blotting in human colorectal carcinomas and in adjacent non-neoplastic colorectal mucosas. Cyclin E was higher in the cancer tissue than in the non-neoplastic mucosa in 92% patients (35 out of 38 cases). However, the cyclin A expression of the mucosa was higher than that of the cancer tissue in 63% (25 out of 40 cases) cases, and only 4 (10%) cancers had higher cyclin A expression. Eleven cancers (27%) demonstrated expression equivalent to that in the mucosa. Equal expression of cyclin D1 in cancer and mucosal tissues was found in 51% cases (20/39), lower expression of cyclin D1 by cancer tissues was demonstrated in 41% cases (16/39) and only three cancers showed higher expression than the mucosa. Proliferating-cell nuclear antigen immunohistochemistry revealed that the labeling index of the cancer tissue was 43.5±8.3% while that of the mucosa was only 14.8±5.1%. These results proved that colorectal cancers express high levels of cyclin E, consistent with a high rate of cell proliferation, whereas most of such cancer lose control of cyclin A and cyclin D1 expression.

Gastric antral vascular ectasia

A case of gastric antral vascular ectasia confined to the antrum in an elderly Japanese male patient is described. The condition is a cause of blood loss and chronic iron deficiency anemia, particularly in the elderly. The clinical, endoscopic, and pathologic findings, which were contrasted with other hyperplastic or gastric vascular abnormalities, are described.

A case of polypoid cavernous hemangioma of the sigmoid colon excised by colonoscopic polypectomy

SummaryA 28-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our institute because of sharp anal pain and a mass that prolapsed from the anus after defecation. After spinal anesthesia for emergency operation, the mass spontaneously withdrew into the anus and the pain disappeared. Surgery was postponed. Barium enema and colonoscopy revealed a pedunculated polyp in the sigmoid colon, which was removed by snare polypectomy with electrocautery. The resected polyp was granular and reddish, and measured 33 × 22 × 14 mm. Histological examination of the polyp revealed a cavernous hemangioma. Hemangioma of the colon is rare; only 52 cases have been reported in Japan. Of these patients, eight underwent endoscopie polypectomy. The present lesion is the largest thus treated that has been documented. Endoscopie polypectomy seems to be a safe and preferable procedure for the diagnosis and treatment of small, solitary polypoid hemangiomas of the colon.

MEDICAL IMAGE OF THE OBTURATOR HERNIA

An 82-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of abdominal pain and pain of the right inferior limb. A simple abdominal X-ray showed a presence of ileus, and a soft and tender tumor on the right obturator foramen was found by intravaginal palpation. As an obturator hernia was suspected, abdominal ultrasonography (Echo), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed. The diagnosis of incarcerated obturator hernia was comformed and radical operation was performed under general anesthesia. Since the determination of the diagnosis of the obturator hernia using these imaging procedures has not been established here we study the priority of these examinations and ranked Echo as the first followed by CT and MRI, in this order.

Surgical treatment of thoracic aneurysm in a hemodialysis-dependent patient: a case report.

A 53-year-old woman who was on hemodialysis underwent the resection of an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta as well as graft replacement. The operation was performed with the aid of femoro-femoral bypass perfusion and an artificial kidney inserted on the venous side of bypass line. Although the perfusion time was short, the uremic metabolic substance was efficiently removed, resulting in easy management after surgery.